Do "the bicycle" with your baby. With your baby lying on his back on the floor, gently move his legs in a bicycle-pedaling motion. Practice this exercise several times daily. These passive leg movements can be very comforting to your baby's digestive system.

Take an infant massage class to learn how massage supports your baby's overall growth and development. Your instructor can also teach you specific strokes and techniques for resolving colic.

Prevention
Keep a record of your child's bouts of irritability and crying, and look for a common denominator. See whether your child cries around the same time every day. Try to determine whether certain foods or activities trigger crying. If you discover a link, eliminate the food or activity that you think may be responsible.

Create a calm environment during feeding, and enjoy this time with your child. Play relaxing music. Make sure both you and baby are physically comfortable. Dress yourself and your baby warmly and comfortably. Be sure your baby's diaper is not too tight.

When feeding your infant, try holding him in an upright position so that the air stays above the milk in his stomach. This will make it easier for your baby to expel the air when he burps.

If you are bottlefeeding, check the size of the nipple hole. Milk should drip out slowly when the bottle is held upside down. If the hole is too small or too large, your baby may ingest too much air while feeding.

To control the amount of air your baby swallows when feeding, limit actual drinking time to about ten minutes. After each two ounces of fluid, try to burp your baby (but don't be discouraged if he doesn't burp).

At the end of each full feeding, burp your baby for ten minutes. Remain calm. Taking extra time now may prevent a bout of colic later.

If your baby just can't get out a burp after ten or fifteen minutes, prop him in an upright position for about half an hour, then try again.

If you are breastfeeding, eliminate the foods listed under Dietary Guidelines, and investigate the possibility of food allergies.

A nursing mother should take an acidophilus or bifidus supplement. If you are bottlefeeding your baby, administer the supplement dissolved in formula.

Try to avoid overfeeding or underfeeding your baby. Spitting up after feedings may indicate overfeeding; crying or continued suckling after feeding may indicate underfeeding. Follow your child's lead. As long as your baby is gaining weight and developing normally, you are probably doing just fine.